Uma kawaba imo kachi naramu yoshie yashi ishi wa fumu tomo wa wa futari yukamu

馬買はば妹徒歩ならむよしゑやし
石は踏むとも我はふたり行かむ

Roma-ji: Uma kawaba imo kachi naramu yoshie yashi ishi wa fumu tomo wa wa futari yukamu
English Translation: If I buy a horse,
then you, my wife, will walk on foot;
so let it be—
though we tread upon the stones,
the two of us will go together
Meaning: If I buy a horse, you will be the one walking. So be it—though we must tread on stones, we two will go on foot together.
Commentary: Book Thirteen Dialogue Poems 3317

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Envoy"
This poem follows the preceding envoy and closes the four dialogue poems noted above. To his wife’s plea the husband answers that if she gives up her mirror and scarf to buy a horse, she will be the one left walking—so let them walk together, even over stones. It is the husband’s reply to the wife’s appeal beginning with the chōka (3314), and his tender consideration brings the exchange to a warm close. Poem 3311 of this book also says “though I tread on stones,” and the two share a heart that does not mind such hardship.
The poet is unknown. Book Thirteen is built mainly of anonymous chōka and their envoys, and many of its poems preserve the air of old songs and ritual verse.

The first line, “uma kawaba,” means “if I buy a horse,” taking up the wife’s “buy a horse, my husband” in the chōka.
The second line, “imo kachi naramu,” means “you will go on foot”; the poem breaks here, showing his concern that parting with her treasures would only burden her.
The third line, “yoshie yashi,” means “let it be,” brushing aside hesitation.
In the fourth line, “tomo” is concessive: “even if we tread on stones.”
The closing line, “wa wa futari yukamu,” means “we two will walk together,” ending on the intentional “mu”; it is hypermetric.
Source: Manyoshu
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